BRISTOL, R.I. – The runs were plentiful for the Roger Williams University Baseball team as they celebrated their Senior Day by smashing the Wentworth Institute of Technology at Paolino Field on Saturday afternoon. The festivities recognizing the eight senior members of the team proved to be only the beginning of the party as the Hawks boogied their way to a 23-3 run-rule win in game one, matching their program-high for runs in a game, before they kept the jamboree rolling with an 11-1 run-rule victory in game two.

With the wins, RWU has extended their winning streak to seven-consecutive games, the third such streak they have had this season, to improve to 24-3-1 overall. They have also clinched a winning record in Commonwealth Coast Conference play as they stand at 9-2-1. For WIT, they have dropped six-straight at the hands of the Hawks with four of those games coming in run-rule fashion and they fall below .500 at 12-13 overall and 2-8 in CCC play.

Over the course of the game one onslaught, the Hawks matched the third-most runs scored in a single game in program history and is the most since they dropped 23 runs on Western New England last April. They also matched their program-high water mark for RBIs (19) and walks drawn (17) in a game on record. RWU also surpassed their program-high for steals in a season as they now stand at 87 on the season.

All the scoring was in support of the graduate student duo of Justin Garcia (Foxborough, Mass.) and Chris Flynn (Naugatuck, Conn.) though it was unnecessary as they both looked sharp. Garcia was especially plagued by long breaks between his stints on the mound and that limited him to five innings in game one, but he held the Leopards scoreless nonetheless, allowing just two hits and three walks while striking out seven but he did enough to improve to 5-0.  Flynn was even more impressive in the second contest, going six innings allowing one unearned run on just three hits, walking none and striking out a career-high 14, improving to 6-1 in the process.

Getting the start for Wentworth in game one was Brandon Sullivan (Quincy, Mass.) and he got shelled to the tune of nine runs, all earned, on 2.2 innings. He limited RWU to three hits but he did himself no favors by walking seven and plunking two more in the loosing effort that saw him fall to 4-3. Jon Campbell (Snohomish, Wash.) was better in game two but he still walked six and allowed three hits on his way to four runs allowed, all of which were earned, across 6.0 innings but he took the loss to fall to 3-3.

Hawk Highlights

Game 1

Brandon Jenkins: 3-for-3, HR, 3 BB, 5 RBI, 3 RS

Tyler Cedeno: 2-for-4, SB, BB, 4 RBI, 3 RS

Kyle Davenport: 2-for-3, 2B, SB, BB, 2 RBI, 2 RS

Matt Massaro: 2-for-4, 2B, BB, RBI, RS

Justin Garcia: (W, 5-0), 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 7 K

For The Opponents

Kyle O'Neill: 3-for-3, 2 2B, 3B, RBI, RS

Kyle Desjardins: 1-for-3, BB, RS

Ryan Putney: 1-for-1, 2B, RBI

Matt Rice: 0-for-1, RS

Brandon Sullivan: (L, 4-3), 2.2 IP, 3 H, 9 R, 9 ER, 7 BB, 2 K

How It Happened

The first inning and a half of game one unfolded in uneventful fashion as Justin Garcia (Foxborough, Mass.) and Brandon Sullivan (Quincy, Mass.) navigated a little traffic to toss scoreless frames but the Roger Williams offense went to work in the bottom of the second. Jack Morin (North Andover, Mass.) and Christopher Flynn (Randolph, N.J.) drew walks and Kyle Davenport (Harrisville, R.I.) got plunked to load the bases. Mike Masino (Bayville, N.J.) followed by plating the opening run with a fielder's choice and the Hawks were on the board with out the benefit of a hit though it would just be a precursor of things to come.

Things completely unraveled for Sullivan in the bottom of the third as Tyler Cedeno (Maynard, Mass.) singled and Matt Massaro (Fairfield, Conn.) doubled before Brandon Jenkins (East Bridgewater, Mass.) was intentionally walked to load the bases with no one out. Sullivan uncorked a wild pitch to allow Cedeno to score but proceeded to walk Morin and Ben Bonavita (East Longmeadow, Mass.) to force in a run. The first two outs were recorded but the Hawks were still in business, and they piled it on with an infield single, hit batsman, walk, and three consecutive singles, with one or more runs scoring on each of those plays on their way to a ten-run frame, their largest of the season.

Wentworth would piece together their top scoring opportunity against Garcia in the fourth as they got two in scoring position on a fielder's choice and a double, but the southpaw picked up a K to escape the threat and the offense went back to work. They plated a pair in the fourth, then four in the fifth, before the Leopards finally got on the board scoring a pair against Connor Padovich (Bristol, R.I.) in the top of the sixth.

The offense responded once more with their fourth-consecutive multi-run inning in the home half. The Hawks got four-straight walks to bring in a run to open the inning, then two more crossed the plate during the process of a Masino fielder's choice and a throw-away. After the pinch hitter, Alex Gulino (Ashburn, Va.), drew ball four, Jenkins put the finishing touches on the offensive masterpiece by obliterating an 0-1 pitch for his sixth home run of the season bringing the run total to 23.

The Leopards did get another run back in the seventh, but it did not matter as RWU secured the run-rule victory.

Game 2

Mike Masino: 2-for-4, 3B, 2 RBI, 2 RS

Matt Massaro: 1-for-3, 3 SB, BB, 2 RBI, RS

Brandon Jenkins: 1-for-4, 2B, SB, 1 BB, 2 RBI, RS

Tyler Cedeno: 1-for-2, 2B, SB, 2 BB, RBI, 2 RS

Chris Flynn: (W, 6-1), 6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 14 K

For The Opponents

Kyle O'Neill: 2-for-4, 3B, RBI

Kyle Desjardins: 2-for-4

Nolan Freeman: 0-for-3, RS

Aidan French: 0-for-1, HBP

Jon Campbell: (L, 3-3), 6.0 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 6 BB, 6 K

How It Happened

Similar to the first contest, the opening inning and a half unfolded without incident before Roger Williams jumped on the board in the second. Mike Masino (Bayville, N.J.) leadoff with a single, Tommy Hobin (Madison, Conn.) doubled, and Tyler Cedeno (Maynard, Mass.) drew a walk to load the bases. Matt Massaro (Fairfield, Conn.) cashed in by ripping a single into right to plate a pair. Brandon Jenkins (East Bridgewater, Mass.) would get walked intentionally then Jack Morin (North Andover, Mass.) brought Cedeno in on a sacrifice fly that also saw Massaro take third. The hosts then executed a first-and-third double steal to bring in their fourth run of the frame and took a commanding 4-0 lead.

Kyle O'Neill (Haverhill, N.H.) drove in an unearned run in the seventh off Chris Flynn (Naugatuck, Conn.) before the RWU offense broke things open in the eighth. They got two on as Hobin walked and Cedeno got drilled. Jenkins brought both in with a bloop double down the leftfield line, but he came all the way around to score on an inside the parker, little league style, as the Leopards threw the ball away. Morin followed by singling and stole second but once again the throw sailed away allowing him to take third. Ben Bonavita (East Longmeadow, Mass.) brought him in on a safety squeeze. After a couple of walks, Masino split the gap in left-center to plate two and two batters later, Cedeno walked it off, run-rule style, with a double to finalize the 11-1 win.

What's Next

Roger Williams opens a busy week of action on Monday when they travel to Boston for a makeup game against UMass-Boston under the lights. First pitch from Morin Park is set for 7:00 PM.